Rotel really only comes out to speak to the press once a year, and it always seems to happen right around the September time frame as CEDIA draws near. This year, the high-end brand will be introducing a smattering of new products in the newly created 15 Series. For starters, we've got the flagship RSX-1560 7.1-channel AV receiver, which offers up 100-watts of Class D power per channel, four HDMI 1.3 inputs, 1080p / 24Hz Faroudja video processing and assignable 12V triggers to boot. It'll also be trotting out the RSX-1550 AVR, the RSP-1570 surround processor / preamplifier, the potent RMB-1575 amp and a number of other home components detailed in the read link. The whole crew should be available by Q4, and if you're scouting the stratospheric price tags, they're down there in the PDF as well.

We thought we had seen all of Sony's 2008 ES lineup, but boy were we distinctly incorrect. Sony Japan has today revealed a trio of newcomers, two of which we've never seen before. The TA-DA5400ES packs a 120-watt x 7 channel internal amplifier, six HDMI inputs (and 2 outputs), six optical audio jacks and three sets of component inputs (among others). As for the STR-DA3400ES, the wattage steps down to 100-watts per channel and the port selection isn't nearly as robust; the STR-DG820 is already available in the States, making us believe this one's just an overseas re-release. Anywho, feel free to check out the full specifications in the read link below, and you can look for these to land (at least in Japan) this November.

[Via SonyInsider]

The Audioholics store has lifted the lid on the new Marantz SR4003 receiver. Right up front, you'll notice the design borrows from Marantz's Reference series of components, so now you can satisfy your champagne-like tastes without breaking your beer-like budget. Joe Six Pack won't feel robbed by the feature set either -- the SR4003 is a seven-channel, 80-Watt number with a triplet of HDMI 1.3a inputs and a single output. With some 16,000-microfarads in the amplifier section's capacitor banks, those are pretty generous 80-Watts, too. Of course, there's an array of video upconversion and autocalibration niceties for you, too. For Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA, you'll have to use LPCM, but something had to be cut out to fit the budget. In all, the generous package of specs behind the nice-looking face and a $550 price sound like a good formula to us.

These are primarily for the pros, so we'll keep it short and sheet. RTI is getting set to unveil a trio of new products at CEDIA, the first of which routes eight analog audio and eight composite video sources to eight individual zones. Needless to say, that's the A8 Audio Distribution Matrix Switcher we're referring to. The V6 Video Distribution Matrix Switcher can switch six component and composite video sources between six varying zones, while the CP-1680 Multi-Channel Audio Amplifier provides audio through 16 channels at 80-watts each. Pricing has yet to be divulged, but feel free to venture on past the break for the whole release.

Here's an idea that makes sense -- since AV receivers do the video switching and format conversion, why not put the image calibration in there, too? Integra is doing exactly that with its DTR-8.9 ($1,900) and DTR-9.9 ($2,600) receivers, as well as the DHC-9.9 ($2,000) preamp-processor. Better yet, this functionality will conform to ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) protocols so all you pixel-peepers can sleep easy. This makes it possible to calibrate your video sources independently, so you're not limited by the number of inputs you have on your display device. The only problem we see with this is that your ISF tech has to shoulder the extra work of setting up more calibrations.

AMD wasn't kidding around about trimming and down and driving hard after profitability. The company just struck up a deal with Broadcom to swap its TV-chip unit for $192.8 million in cash to help fight debt and seek out profitability. Broadcom is getting 530 AMD employees out of the deal and AMD's considerable experience in the digital TV chipset game, which will become the "core" of Broadcom's line in that market. The deal should close by the end of the year, and is unrelated to AMD's efforts to spin off its foundry biz.

[Thanks, Keith L]

Okay, it's not like we expect the typical McIntosh customer to exactly be clipping coupons, but the company is offering up some incentive to get owners to upgrade their gear. The new Trade-UP program credits owners 75-percent of the original MSRP as a trade-in on any working McIntosh amp, preamp, integrated amp or receiver, good towards the purchase of some of the company's newfangled gear. This is a limited time offer, so get to it. And if you're worried that any new McIntosh gear will look out of place, don't -- the same chrome, blue backlighting, analog meters and Olde English logos are still in use today. So yeah, this moves McIntosh ahead of our college textbooks, cars, most of our stocks and even our homes in terms of maintained value. Don't let anyone tell you you're wasting money on gear again.

[Image courtesy The High Fidelity Museum]

Besting its DTR-5.9 sibling, the new DTR-6.9 AV receiver from Integra has earned itself the THX Select2 Plus certification. In fact, it's the first Integra model to meet that spec, which among other things means that the DTR-6.9 packs THX Loudness Plus wizardry for those of us who value our hearing and don't listen at reference levels all the time. As you'd expect from the Onkyo roots, the feature set is solid: 7x100-Watts, four HDMI 1.3a inputs, Faroudja scaling, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA and Audyssey MultiEQ. And because it's an Integra, you also know that custom installers get some niceties as well: multizone audio that can tap into a pair of the 7-channel amplifier section, 12-volt triggers and remote control via ethernet, RS-232 and HDMI. All in all, a nice tidy package for $1,000.

Well, what have we here? Thanks to a few mighty believable screen captures, it looks as if Yamaha is getting ready to unveil at least three new AV receivers on the world alongside a stupidly priced Blu-ray player. The 7.1-channel RX-V1900 ($1,399.95) looks to boast four HDMI sockets, USB, a slew of digital audio ports and an undisclosed amount of power; the RX-V3900 ($1,899.95) and the RX-Z7 ($2,699.95) will deliver even more potency, though these are clearly aimed for the more affluent HT enthusiasts among us. Our real love interest here, however, is the mythical BD-S2900 -- an $1,199.95 Blu-ray player with BonusView, support for 1080p24 / 12-bit Deep Color, 192kHz / 24-bit DACs and a bunch of other ho hum specs that make us wonder just how inaccurate that MSRP must be. Here's hoping CEDIA clears things up on the whole gang.

[Via AVBuzz, thanks Yuval]

For most folks, it's hard to think of any $5,500 receiver as a "value purchase," but as we've seen before, "value" can get pretty slippery at the high end. Audioholics has put up a very detailed review of Denon's flagship AVR-5308CI receiver, just to test the value of the unit. If you want need a reference-quality centerpiece to your HT setup, we'd be hard-pressed to disagree with the analysis. First, think of the unit as a top-of-the-line Denon AVP-A1HDCI preamp/processor and a seven-channel amplifier that share a power cord, all in one tidy (and massive) chassis. Now consider the $7,500 price tag on that AVP-A1HDCI -- that's $2,000 more than the receiver, and you still have to shell out for an amplifier (or seven). Of course, maybe after the first $5,500, you won't feel the additional $2,000. Somehow we don't think that's true -- check your bank balance and hit the link for the review, not necessarily in that order.

Panasonic has big plans to grow the current roster of 30 families in its "Living in HD" program to 60 by 2009, with plans to ultimately hit 100 (or convert everyone on the planet). The program loads up entire families with all manner of Panasonic gear, HD-Santa style and has them document the results after the initial smash-and-grab (pictured above) with Panasonic HD camcorders. Our pitchman tells us it's like a tech-laden reality show, but without that entertaining ugly competitive element; because -- you know -- when it's about HD, everyone's a winner. There's some seriously sweet gear involved in the program, including a 50-inch plasma TV, Blu-ray player, HT setup, HD camcorder and a Wii, so head on over to the program website and apply. C'mon -- we can't think of any more qualified candidates, and you know you're going to buy that gear anyways!

Whether to call it a "champagne" or "gold" finish, we're not sure, but Onkyo is definitely making some kind of fashion statement with these receivers. The TX-SA806X is the natural follow-up to last month's TX-SA706X announcement, but then Onkyo went and broke the naming convention with the TX-NA906X receiver. That's some kind of marketing. But the specs on these new 7.1-channel models look good -- typical beefy Onkyo construction is good for 200- and 180-Watts (into a 6-Ohm load) from the NA906X and SA806X models, respectively. Some notables include the Reon HQV video processing, 4-in / 2-out HDMI 1.3a ports and DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD decoding. We'll let you read on through for all the spec details, but with these shipping later this month, we hope that TX-SR906 and TX-SR806 models for export can't be far away. Pricing for these two is ¥367,500 ($3,300) and ¥262,500 ($2,400). [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via CyberTheater]

Ask three HD-die hards about their favorite remote, and you're likely to get five different answers. We're a tough bunch, and there's no single remote that Onkyo could throw in the box with its receivers that would make everyone happy (just check reader comments for evidence). But partnering up with well-known remote control manufacturer Universal Electronics, Inc. (UEI) certainly can't hurt, right? If things go according to plan, UEI's library of over 350,000 functions across the manufacturer spectrum should make system integration possible. Best of all, the new universal remotes are slated to ship with a range of Onkyo's receivers -- from entry level to high end -- so you don't have to buy into the pricey part of Onkyo's lineup. As always, we applaud anything that makes the couch-potato lifestyle a little more accessible.

Check it, Onkyo fans -- your main outfit has just revealed two new AV receivers and a pair of HTIB systems, so we're going to get right down to it. Both the $1,099 TX-SR806 (pictured) and $899 TX-SR706 receivers are THX certified and include Faroudja DCDi video processing capabilities, Audyssey room acoustics correction and Dynamic EQ, and Onkyo's Music Optimizer. You'll also find at least four HDMI 1.3a ports and 1080p upscaling. Moving on, we've got the $899 HT-S7100 and $799 HT-S6100 HTIB systems, each of which include a receiver, seven-channel loudspeaker system, a powered subbie and an obligatory iPod dock. Check the read link for more details and ship dates.